HUNTINGDON, Pa. – Juniata College baseball rallied late to earn the split against Penn State Altoona Wednesday afternoon. The Eagles dropped game one 7-3 before coming from behind to win game two 5-4 in nine innings. Senior Ben Mersky (Hershey, Pa./Hershey) hit the walk-off single to center that helped the Eagles improve to 9-21 this season. Altoona is now 10-20 on the year.
"It feels good," said Juniata head coach Jesse Leonard. "Happy to get that second one. Guys battled back and put together a good game. It was definitely a team effort. Everyone coming out of the [bull]pen and doing their part. They stepped in when they needed to and got the big hits."
Mersky went 3-for-5 in the second game and knocked in three of the Eagles five runs. He hit .429 on the day and did not strike out once. Junior Dan Gray (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) played well in game one. He went 1-for-2 with two runs and a walk.
Game One
Juniata jumped on the board first. With one out and two on in the first inning, junior Joe Sforza (Pittstown, N.J./Immaculata) singled to right center scoring both runners and putting the Eagles up 2-0. But Altoona responded in the top of the second inning with five runs to take the 5-2 lead.
The Eagles would only get one more run across in the sixth inning. Gray led off with a triple and scored when Mersky flied out to left field. Altoona starter Elliot Clemens pitched a complete game to improve to 1-1. Senior Andrew Groninger (McAlisterville, Pa./East Juniata) received the loss and moved to 2-2 on the season.
Game Two
Altoona led 4-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning. The first two Eagle hitters walked and then advanced into scoring position when freshman Jimmy Szamski (Glen Arm, Md./Eastern Tech) laid down the sacrifice bunt. Senior Chase Dykstra (Somerset, Pa./Somerset Area) then reached on a fielding error by the second baseman and one run scored. Mersky sent a ball to deep center field that cleared the base and pulled Juniata within one, 4-3.
Starter Ryan Robinette and the Lion defense shut down the next two batters to end the inning.
Sforza led off the sixth with a double to left center and that spelled the end for Robinette. He was replaced by Josh Clark who then gave up a single to left that advanced Sforza to third. When the next batter reached on a fielding error by the second baseman, Sforza sprinted across for the tying run. Clark retired the next three batters to attempt to save the game. But he was relieved by Brandon Auman who pitched down the stretch for the Lions.
Defense continued to be the name of the game until the ninth inning when Auman walked leadoff Anthony Lombardo (Altoona, Pa./Altoona). Sforza then laid down the sacrifice bunt to advance the freshman, who moved to third when Dykstra singled down the left field line on an 0-1 pitch. Mersky then took the first pitch of his at-bat over the center fielder's head, scoring Lombardo and ending the game.
"When you're confident in a guy like Ben Mersky, and he comes up in that situation, you know he's going to do it for you and he did," added Leonard. "He did a good job today."
Freshman Darrin Williams (Fayetteville, Ga./Sandy Creek) earned his first collegiate start in game two. But Juniata's bullpen went to work in the sixth, holding the Lions scoreless through four at-bats. Junior Mario DeYulius (Ebensburg, Pa./Central Cambria) earned the decision to improve to 3-4 this season.
"With these games backed up into conference games, you need everyone to do their part," Leonard said of the bullpen. "Whether it's an inning or two, or a handful of pitches, they came in and fielders made plays behind them. That's all you can ask for."
Juniata prepares for its last home series and senior day this weekend. The Eagles play a doubleheader against Landmark Conference rival Merchant Marine on Saturday, April 20 beginning at 1 p.m. and follow it with a single-game on Sunday, April 21 at noon.
"We like our momentum," said Leonard. "The win was good for the momentum going into this weekend. It's a big series. The weather is going to be nice. The field looks great for this time of year. There's no place better to be."
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